Portugal's parliament voted in favour of decriminalising euthanasia for the third time after the past two attempts to pass the legislation were vetoed by the country’s president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. “Medically-assisted death” was legalised by Belgium and the Netherlands more than two decades ago and several European countries have followed suit in the last few years. However, Portugal is yet to join the list due to the conservative approach taken by top authorities.

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The Socialist party, which enjoys an absolute majority in parliament, voted in favour of decriminalising euthanasia. However, the bill will only be passed after the president signs it.

The president said Thursday that he will take his decision "certainly before Christmas".

Reuters reported the bill advocates "the right to life cannot be turned into an obligation to live under any circumstances". However, it has been opposed by various groups recently with Catholic Doctors' Association saying that it "brings Portugal closer to more permissive legislation".

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According to the latest bill, euthanasia will be reserved for adults with "serious and incurable illness" and patients who have made a "reiterated" and "free and informed" personal decision.

In 2021, after the legislation won the parliamentary vote for the second time, it was sent to the constitutional court. Although the court said that it can be allowed with a few amendments, the president of the country still decided to not sign on it citing religious reasons.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Portugal's parliament voted in favour of decriminalising euthanasia for the third time after the past two attempts to pass the legislation were vetoed by the country’s president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

Portugal's parliament voted in favour of decriminalising euthanasia for the third time after the past two attempts to pass the legislation were vetoed by the country’s president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. “Medically-assisted death” was legalised by Belgium and the Netherlands more than two decades ago and several European countries have followed suit in the last few years. However, Portugal is yet to join the list due to the conservative approach taken by top authorities. Also read | India-Russia summit to not happen this year due to 'scheduling issues' The Socialist party, which enjoys an absolute majority in parliament, voted in favour of decriminalising euthanasia. However, the bill will only be passed after the president signs it. The president said Thursday that he will take his decision "certainly before Christmas". Reuters reported the bill advocates "the right to life cannot be turned into an obligation to live under any circumstances". However, it has been opposed by various groups recently with Catholic Doctors' Association saying that it "brings Portugal closer to more permissive legislation". Also read | Basketball star Brittney Griner arrives home in US after Russia prisoner swap According to the latest bill, euthanasia will be reserved for adults with "serious and incurable illness" and patients who have made a "reiterated" and "free and informed" personal decision. In 2021, after the legislation won the parliamentary vote for the second time, it was sent to the constitutional court. Although the court said that it can be allowed with a few amendments, the president of the country still decided to not sign on it citing religious reasons.

Portugal's parliament passes bill decriminalising euthanasia for third time

A court in Germany has said that a 2015 law banning professional assisted suicide was "unconstitutional".

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Assisted suicide services are no longer banned in the country. The German court rejected the five-year-old law which banned professionally assisted suicide.

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pro-euthanasia-bills-get-green-light-in-portugal-negotiations-ahead-281991/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The landmark decision came after a group of terminally ill patients along with doctors challenged the law.

In Germany, the subject is all the more contentious because of the Nazi policy of killing hundreds of thousands of sick and disabled people during the 1930s and 40s.

The paragraph 217 was passed in November 2015 which penalized anyone who turned assisted suicide into a professional service. It required German patients to go abroad to end their lives. Under Paragraph 217, professionals falling foul of the law risked a fine or up to three years in prison.

Earlier, they would travel to Switzerland or the Netherlands or seek euthanasia via relatives. The law now stands repealed.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/countries-where-euthanasia-is-legal-281943">In Pics: Countries where euthanasia is legal</a>

The court ruled the prohibition of assisted suicide services violates the basic law and is void and that the country's constitution gives individuals the right to a self-determined death which includes the freedom to take one's own life and use assistance provided voluntarily by third parties.

The judge said those who wanted to offer suicide assistance must be legally allowed to without being forced. However, it set conditions through mandatory waiting periods or consumer protection standards for assisted suicide associations.

At the moment, assisted suicide is legal only in a few other places. Switzerland, the Netherlands, in the Australian state of Victoria and in some American states.

A court in Germany has said that a 2015 law banning professional assisted suicide was "unconstitutional". Also Read: New Zealand parliament backs euthanasia referendum Assisted suicide services are no longer banned in the country.

A court in Germany has said that a 2015 law banning professional assisted suicide was "unconstitutional". Also Read: New Zealand parliament backs euthanasia referendum Assisted suicide services are no longer banned in the country. The German court rejected the five-year-old law which banned professionally assisted suicide. Watch Video: The landmark decision came after a group of terminally ill patients along with doctors challenged the law. In Germany, the subject is all the more contentious because of the Nazi policy of killing hundreds of thousands of sick and disabled people during the 1930s and 40s. The paragraph 217 was passed in November 2015 which penalized anyone who turned assisted suicide into a professional service. It required German patients to go abroad to end their lives. Under Paragraph 217, professionals falling foul of the law risked a fine or up to three years in prison. Earlier, they would travel to Switzerland or the Netherlands or seek euthanasia via relatives. The law now stands repealed. In Pics: Countries where euthanasia is legal The court ruled the prohibition of assisted suicide services violates the basic law and is void and that the country's constitution gives individuals the right to a self-determined death which includes the freedom to take one's own life and use assistance provided voluntarily by third parties. The judge said those who wanted to offer suicide assistance must be legally allowed to without being forced. However, it set conditions through mandatory waiting periods or consumer protection standards for assisted suicide associations. At the moment, assisted suicide is legal only in a few other places. Switzerland, the Netherlands, in the Australian state of Victoria and in some American states.

German court overturns ban on assisted suicide

The decriminalisation of euthanasia and assisted suicide is a step closer to becoming a reality in Portugal after lawmakers approved a set of bills on Thursday (February 20), a move applauded by many but opposed by religious groups and conservatives.

Pro-euthanasia bills get green light in Portugal, negotiations ahead

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